System for comparison or analysis of information



March 30, 1948. w, A, T SQN 2,438,588

SYSTEM FOR COMPARISON on ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION Filed Sept. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ORNEY' kokm w wmg March 30, 1948. w. A. TOLSON SYSTEM FOR COMPARISON OR ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION I Filed Sept. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fig/ Z9111 251;!012

KS3 t? ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1948 SYSTEM FOR CODIPABISON OR ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION William A. Tolsoii, Princeton, N. 1., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application September 14, 1946, Serial No. 697,126 15 Claims. (or an-41.5)

The present invention relates to recorded statistical information and more particularly to a system for the comparison or analysis of information which has been represented on a tape or the like in the form of punched holes so arranged as to identify a particular piece of informative data. Thus, for example, a continuous strip of material may be utilized for keeping records of checks passing through a bank, each check being represented by perforations punched in the strip and serving to identify the number of the check, the amount of the check or any other information required in connection therewith. After such a tape has been perforated with the desired information it be-. comes a permanent record from which any check recorded can be found or the number of checks by the same payer can be integrated...

In comparison systems heretofore in use it has been the practice to employ individual punched cards for each check, transaction or collection data, each such card having an identifying perforation whereby when mixed in with a batch of other cards it can be readily found by running the batch through a sorting machine, or if the identifying perforation serves as a class designation the cards can be counted by running them through a tabulation machine. Such sorting and tabulating depends upon electrical circuits controlled by contacts operated by pins passing through the perforations.

Some of the objects of the present invention are: to provide an improved system for comparing and analyzing information previously punched on cards, tape or other medium for recording information in the form of arranged perforations; to provide a system for automatically selecting one data unit from a plurality of data units; to pro.- vide a comparison and analyzing system for data punched on a card or tape wherein a non-reflecting material is associated with a reflecting medium and serves as a selecting means for locating certain information mingled with other information; to provide a comparison and analyzing system for data punched on a record strip, card or the like, wherein a photo-electric assembly is arranged to function in'conjunction with reflecting and non-reflecting surfaces; to provide comparison means in which the recorded information moves through the comparator continuously and at high speed; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a schematic assembly of an information comparator embodying one form of the present invention; Figure 2 represents a portion of a tape 2 showing a group of perforations for identifying one unit of information; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing one form of circuit control; and Figure 4 represents an enlarged sectional detail showing the respective control registration perforations in register. I

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of the invention comprehends the reflection method as a comparison means for obtaining information from a prepared tape or strip i0, which, in the present instance, is a white paper having a succession of group perforations therein, each group representing the record of certain informative data different from some or all of the remaining group. While white paper preferably serves as a light-reflecting medium, other material may be used as long as one surface thereof is capable of reflecting light.

For positioning the tape III for analyzing the recorded data thereon and feeding it past a sensing station, a support plate or background H is provided having a non-reflective upper surface over which the tape is fed in one direction through the medium of a driven roller l2 and opposed idle roller l3, adjacent one end of the support plate I I,

and in the opposite direction through the medium of a driven roller l4 and opposed idle roller l5, adjacent the other end of the support plate Ii. The roller l2 has its shaft l6 journalled in links l1 suitably pivoted at I8 to swing towards or away from the tape l0 between theroller I2 and the idle roller It. The roller I4 has its shaft 20 journalled in links 2! suitably pivoted at 22 to swing forwards or away from the tape Ill between the roller II and idle roller [5. Motion is alternately transmitted to the respective rollers l2 and H by the projecting ends of a shaft 23 of a reversible type motor 24, one end of the shaft 23 carrying a worm gear 25 meshing with a gear 26 on the shaft l6, and the other end of the shaft 23 carrying a worm gear 21 meshing with a gear 28 on the shaft 20. When the motor 24 is running in one direction the thrust of the shaft will press the proper feed roller against the tape and idle roller to feed the tape in the selected direction while the opposite feed roller is withdrawn from the tape, and when the motor is running in the opposite direction the reverse action of the feed rollers will take place so that the tape is fed in the opposite direction. This provision eliminates the necessity of rewinding the-white tape i0 after each operation.

For sensing information as to a particular group of the group of data on the tape III, a strip 29 having a non-reflecting surface 30, is fed from a reel 3|, through akey punch 32 and-thence across and superposed with respect to the tape ii) on the plate II. The reflecting surface of the tape ill is juxtaposed to the strip 29, and the latter has its non-reflecting surface 30 uppermost and exposed. Positioning pairs of rollers 33 and 34, respectively located at opposite ends of the plate I I serve to hold the tape I and strip 23 in contact with each other and also with the plate I I.

In Figure 2 one arrangement of punched perforations in the tape I3 is shown as representative of one group of the several groups of data, in this instance, beingNumber 6,829,547, and'as this is the group to be located, or to be counted on the tape ill, the black strip 23 will be punched to correspond to this number, in order toregister for comparison with the selected group. Also, a registration or control perforation 35 is provided on the tape ill in association with the group, this aperture being in relatively close proximity to the margin of the tape Ill. The black strip 29 also is punched with a control perforation 36 at the proper location to register with the control perforation 35. When the black strip 29 is in position for analyzing, its control perforation 33 thereon will register with the perforation 35, while the latter will register with a hole 31, through the plate I I and in alinement with a lamp 33 arranged to be lighted, as will be explained.

In order to analyze the data on the tape I0, as it travels across the plate Ii, below the stationary strip 29, an open bottom housing 40 is mounted above the plate II in close proximity to the strip 29, and encloses a casing 4i having a photo-electric cell PG-2 therein upon which light reflected from the reflecting surface of the tape i3 is focussed by a lens 42. Two sources of light in the form of glow lamps T2 and T3 are arranged respectively at opposite sides of the casing 4i and concealed from the cell 42 but serving to illuminate those portions of the tape I0 reflecting surface which are exposed by nonregistering perforations of the tape in and strip A control photo-electric cell PC-i is mounted in an open bottom receptacle 43 in alinement with the hole 31 and above the strip 29 so that light beams from the lamp 33 can be focussed thereon by a lens 41. Both the housing 43 and receptacle 46 .are arranged to prevent stray light beams from entering the respective photo-electric chambers. 1

Generally considered, the circuit controlled by the registration perforation 35 includes the photoelectric cell PC- l, a detector tube Tl, preferably of the grid bias type, wherein the grid is normally biased to cut-off, and two glow lamps T2 and T3 in the plate circuit of T- -l and in series with a relay R-l. This relay R-l controls contacts 6-! and 0-2, the former serving to control a circuit of the operating motor through the medium of a tube T4 and relay R-4, while the latter serves to control a circuit having a lamp or counter through the medium of a relay R, 3, which controls a pair of locking contacts 0-5 of the circuit selectively common to the lamp and counter. Selection of the lamp or counter may be made at will by a switch SW. The closing of the circuit for the relay R3 is by way of a relay operated contact C3 the perforations in the strip 29, the relay R-2 maintains the contact C3 open and consequently the indicating lamp or counter is not operated. However, when all perforations in both the tape in and the strip 23 are in register, the black background of the plate H causes no reflection and in consequence the relay 3-2 is deenergized and the contact C3 closed to thereby close contact C5 to operate the counter or the indicating lamp. A contact C6 of the locking type is in a shunt circuit of 3-3, so that when closed by the energization of R-3 it will maintain the R,3 circuit energized and the lamp lighted under the reset is manually operated to break the lit-3 circuit.

The operation of the system is as follows: assuming the apparatus is to be used for checking the presence of a particular number in a list of numbers previously punched in the white surface tape H), the tape ill will be threaded through the feed rolls l4 and I5 and brought across the top of the background plate H. The number to be checked is'then punched in the black strip 23 by means of the keyboard punch 32 and is then indexed forward to the correct position above the white surfaced tape ill on the plate II. This operation of indexing the paper forward is arranged to start the motor which thereafter continuously feeds the white tape across the plate I I. The black strip 29 is so pcsitioned that the registration aperture 36 lies directly above the aperture 31 in the plate II in register with the lamp 33. As the motor driven white tape l0 moves across the comparator plate II the registration aperture or perforation of each number passes the registration aperture in the black tape and allows a pulse of light from the lamp '38 to be projected into the photo-cell PC2. This operates to drive the grid of the tube Tl positive. Thus, the pulse of light on the photo-cell PC-2 serves to produce a corresponding flash of light from the glow tubes T2 and T3 and at the same time closes the pairs of contacts 0-! and C2 of relay R-l. If the perforations in both tapes are identical, no light will be reflected into photo-cell PC-2 since all light passing through the perforations in the black tape is absorbed by the black background of plate I I below the white tape. Under this condition, relay R-2 does not operate and contact C3 remains closed. Since'contacts 0-! have been closed, by the operation of relay R-l, the relay R-3 is operated to thereby close the circuit of the indicating lamp or to operate a counter as the case may be. Relay R-3 also carries a pair of locking contacts (3-5 which maintain the indi- I eating lamp in operation until the reset button and preventing the energization of the relay R-3 which is controlled by a relay R-2 in the plate circuit of a detector tube T--5 in the 'circuit controlled by the photo-electric cell PC-2. As long as a signal is received by the tube T5 due to the light reflected from the tape Ill through and consequently operation of the indicator lamp.

' As long as light is reflected from the tape ID by non-registering perforations, both PC-l and 190-2 will operate the respective circuits of tubes Tl and T5 to hold contact Ci closed and contact C3 open.

In order that the motor operation may be made automatic, the relay Rr -I also controls the pair of contacts (3-2, .which serve to charge condenser c shunted by resistor r. The time constant of this circuitwill be in the order of Y second. Thus, as long as the white tape is being driven through the comparator head and registration pulses are driving relay R-l. contacts -2 serve to maintain the grid of T& below cutoif, and contacts 0- 4 remain closed, thereby maintaining the motor in continuous operation. The motor-start contactor would be operated by the lever which indexes the tape into position in the comparator head. .Thus, the motor would be started by the act of positioning the tape in the comparator head and it would continue to run until all information punched on the white tape has been checked. Under the foregoing condition the motor will run continuously,.which is the desired condition when counting a plurality of the same pattern of perforations and at this time the switch SW will be thrown to bring the counter under control of the lit-3 circuit.

In case it is desired to re-rim the tape, provision is made for running the tape in the reverse direction for counting or locating other recorded data, by including in the motor circuit a relay having a contactor 50 in one motor lead 5| which includes a, pivoted contactor 52 arranged to be controlled by a relay R5 in the motor lead 53 by either the motor start button or the contact (3-4. The contactor =52 carries a pawl 54 so positioned as to actuate a six point star wheel 55 whenever the contactor 52 is moved to closed position, thereby turning shaft 56 of a three point cam 51, which is positioned to control the motor reversing contactor 50 and retain the motor running continuously in one direction as long as the motor start button is closed. When the tape has reached the end of its travel, or whenever its direction requires reverse travel, the motor start button is momentarily opened and then closed again, whereupon the star wheel 55 turns the cam 51 to the position where the contactor 50 is between two of the cams and the motor circuit is closed to run the motor in the opposite direction.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a complete unitary statistical system has been devised wherein either a single pattern group of a series of varied pattern groups on a tape can be automatically located or the number of like patterns on the tape totalled by means of a counter. In the former instance, the single pattern when located is indicated by a lamp, buzzer, or other indicating means, and in the latter instance by setting the control to operate a counter.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a statistical comparator apparatus, the

combination of a background having a non-refleeting surface, a length of tape having a light reflecting surface and a plurality of groups of perforations, each group representing certain informative data difierent from some or all the remaining groups, -,a strip of non-reflecting material juxtaposed to said tape and having perforations corresponding in number and arrangeperforations, each group representing certain informative data different from some or all the remaining groups, a strip of non-reflecting material juxtaposed to said tape and having perforations corresponding in number and arrangement with one group on said tape, means for feeding said tape across said background and relative to said strip to alternately expose reflecting and non-reflecting surfaces according to non-registration and registration of the two sets of perforations, an indicator, and sensing means responsive positively or negatively as a function of the reflection characteristics of said surfaces for controlling said indicator.

3. In a statistical comparator apparatus, the combination of a background having a non-refleeting-surface, a, length of tape having a light reflecting'surface and a plurality of groups of perforations, each group representing certain informative data different from some or all the remaining groups, a strip of non-reflecting material Juxtaposed tosaid tape and having perforations corresponding in number and arrangement with one group on said tape, means for feeding said tape across said background and relative to said strip, an indicator, and means operating as a function of reflection and non-reflection of said surfaces to control operation of said indicator whereby light reflection prevents operation of said indicator and non-reflection of light operates said indicator.

4. In a statistical comparator apparatus, the combination of a background having a non-reflecting surface, a length of tape having a light reflecting surface and a plurality of groups of perforations, each group representing certain informative data different from some or all the remaining groups, a strip of non-reflecting material juxtaposed to said tape and having perforations corresponding in number and arrangement with one group on said tape, means for feeding said tape across said background and relative to said strip, an indicator, and means operating as a function of reflection and nonreflection of said surfaces to control operation of said indicator, whereby in one light condition said indicator is inoperative and in the other condition the indicator is operated.

5. In a statistical comparator apparatus, the combination of a background having a non-reflecting surface and a registration hole, a length of tape having a, light reflecting surface, a plurality of groups of perforations and a registration control perforation positioned to register with said hole, each'of said groups representing certain informative .data different from some or all the remaining groups, a strip of non-reflecting material juxtaposed to said tape and having perforations corresponding in number and arrangement with one group on said tape, and also having a registration control perforation positioned to register with said hole, means for feeding said tape across said background and relative to said strip, an indicator, an electrical circuit including a light sensitive means responsive to light reflected from said tape for controlling said indicator, and a second electrical circuit including a light sensitive means responsive to register of said control perforations with said hole for initiating operation of said indicator control circuit.

6. In a statistical comparator system, the combination of a source of light, a background having a non-reflective surface disposed toward said light source, a tape having a light-reflecting surface also disposed toward said light source when on said background, said tape having groups of perforations therein, each group representing aasacaa difierent statistical data different from some or all of the remaining group a strip superposed n said tape having a non-reflective surface disposed toward said light source and also having a plurality of perforations corresponding in num-.

ber and arrangement with one of said tape groups, means for moving said tape relative to said strip, an indicator, and means operated by a said light source for operating said indicator lii register with ing a non-reflective surface disposed toward said light source, said strip having perforations therethrough arranged in a predetermined relation, a tape interposed between saidstrip and said background having a light-reflecting surface juxtaposed to said strip, said tape having a plurality of groups of perforations therethrough with at least one group corresponding in number and arrangement to said strip perforations, means for feeding said tape relative to said strip and background, anindicator, and means operated by said light source for operating said indicator when said one perforated group on said tape comes into register with said strip perforations.

8. In a statistical comparator system the combination of a-light source, a background having a non-reflecting surface disposed toward said source, a strip superposed on said surface having a non-reflective surface disposed toward said light source, said strip having perforations there through arranged in a predetermined relation, a tape interposed between said strip and said background having a light reflecting surface juxtaposed to said strip, said tape having a plurality of groups of perforations therethrough with at least one group corresponding in number and arrangement to said strip perforations, means for feeding said tape relative to said strip and background, an indicator, means operated by said light source for operating said indicator when said one perforated group on said tape comes into register with said strip perforations, and means associated with said light source for sensing a prelocated perforation of said tape as a control for said indicator operating means.

9. In a statistical comparator system comprising three elementshaving respectively a non-reflecting surface, a second non-reflecting surface, and a reflecting surface, said reflecting surface element being interposed between said non-reflecting surface elements, one of said elements having perforationsarranged in a predetermined pattern and another element having perforations arranged in groups at least one of which corresponds in number and arrangement to the said predetermined pattern, means for moving said group element relative to the other two elements, a source of light, an indicator, and sensing means controlled positively or negatively by said light source as a function of the reflective character istics of said surfaces for controlling operation of said indicator.

, 10. In a statistical comparator system comprising three elements having respectively a nonreflecting surface, a second non-reflecting surface, and a reflecting siu'face, said reflecting surface element being interposed between said nonreflecting surface elements, one of said elements having perforations arranged in a predetermined pattern and another element having perforations one ofsaid tape group patterns, an electrical cirarranged in groups at least one of which corresponds in number and arrangement to the said predetermined pattern, means for moving said group element relative to the other two elements, a source of light, a counter, and sensing means controlled positively or negatively by said light source as a function of the reflective characteristics of saidsurfaces for controlling operation of said counter.

11. In a statistical comparator system. the combination of a non-reflective background having a registration hole, means for projecting light rays through said hole, a source of light, a lengthof tape having a reflecting surface disposed towards said light source and a registration perforation located to register with said hole in one position of said tape on said background, said tape also having groups of perforations, each group forming a pattern representing informative data different from some or all of the re-' strip is on said tape, and having a registration perforation located to register with said tape and hole registration perforation when the latter are in registration, said strip also having perforations arranged in a pattern similar to at least cuit, means responsive to the projected light rays passing through said two registration perforations and said hole for closing said circuit to energize said light source, an indicator, and sensing means responsive to'said light source and operative only when said strip pattern registers with'a like group pattern for actuating said indicator.

12. In a statistical comparator system, the combination of a non-reflective background having a registration hole, means for projecting light rays through said hole, a source of light, a length of tape having a reflecting surface disposed towards said light source and a registration perforation located to register with saidv hole in one position of said .tape on said background, said tape also having, groups of perforations, each group forming a pattern representing informative data different from some or all of the remaining groups, a strip having a non-reflective surface juxtaposed to said light source when said strip is on said tape, and having a registration perforation located to register with said tape and-hole registration perforation, whenthe latter are in registration, said strip also having perforations arranged in a pattern similar to -'at" least one of said tape group patterns, an

electrical circuit, means responsive to the projected light rays passing through said two regis-,

' tration perforations and said hole for closing said circuit to energize said light source, an indicator, and means controlled by said light source for sensing the registration of said tape pattern with a like group pattern for actuating said indicator. 1

13. In a statistical comparator system, the combination of a non-reflective background having a registration hole, means for projecting light rays through said hole, a source oflight, a length of tape having a reflecting surface disposed to-' wards said light source and a registration per-- foration located to register with said hole in "3 one position of said tapeon said background, said tape also having groups of perforations,

each group forming a pattern representing informative data different from some or all of the. remaining groups, a strip having a non-reflective masses 9 surface juxtaposed to said light source when said strip is on said tape, and having a registration perioration located to register with said tape and hole registration perforation, when the latter are in registration, said strip also having perforations arranged in a pattern similar to at least one of said tape group patterns, an electrical circuit, means including a photo-electric cell responsive to the, projected light rays passing through said two registration perforations and said. hole for closing said circuit to energize said light source, an indicator, and sensing means responsive to said light source and operative only when said strip pattern registers with a like group pattern for actuating said indicator.

14. In a statistical comparator system, the combination of a non-reflective background having a registration hole, means for projecting light rays through said hole, a source of light, a length of tape having a reflecting surface disposed towards said light source and a registration perforation located to registerwith said hole in one position of said tape on said background, said tape also having groups of perforations, each group forming a pattern representing informative data different from some or all of the remaining groups, a strip having a non-reflective surface juxtaposed to said light source when said strip is on said tape, and having a registration perforation located to register with said tape and hole registration perforation, when the latter are in registration, said strip also having perforations arranged in a pattern similar to at least one of said tape group patterns, an electrical circuit, means responsive to the projected light rays passing through said tworegistration perforations and said hole for closing said circuit to energize said light source, an indicator, and means including a photo-electric cell controlled by said light source for sensing the registration 40 2,294,734

of said tape pattern with a like group pattern for actuating said indicator.

15. In a statistical comparator system, the combination of a non-reflective background having a registration hole, means for projecting light rays through said hole, a source of light, a length of tape having a reflecting surface disposed towards said light source and a registration perforation located to register with said hole in one position of said tape on said background, said tape also having groups of perforations, each group forming a pattern representing informative data different from some or all of the remain ing groups, a strip having a non-reflective surface juxtaposed to said light source when said strip is on said tape, and having a registration perforation located is register with said tape and hole registration perforation, when the latter are in registration, said strip also having perforations arranged in a pattern similar to at least one of said tape group patterns, an electrical circuit, means including a photo-electric cell responsive to the projected light rays passing through said two registration perforations and said hole for closing said circuit to energize said light source, an indicator, and means including a photo-electric cell controlled by said light source for sensing the registration of said tape pattern with a like group pattern for actuating said indicator.

' WILLIAM A. TOLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this'patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,294,720 Dickinson Sept. 1, 1942 Bryce Sept. 1, 1942 

